The percentage of mums working climbs significantly with the level of education. In 2016, 79% of those with tertiary qualifications were working, compared to 61% of mums in the least qualified category. This gap has grown since 1996. Back then 57% of the least qualified mums worked compared to 61% of those with tertiary qualifications – a difference of 4% has widened to 18%.

Combine this trend with an increase in the number of couples with the same level of education and it is easy to see how family incomes have polarised with more well-educated dual high-income families at one end of the spectrum and less-educated single-income families at the other end. Federal Statistical Office data shows that 54% of couples getting together between 1949 and 1973 had similar levels of education compared to 64% between 1994 and 2013.

While more mums, particularly well-qualified ones, are working they have gained little ground in management. Women with children under 15 were much less likely to be managers than dads. In 2011, only 3% of mums were managers compared to 9% of dads. By 2016, these figures had not changed.